31 MARCH 2015

Blencowe Upsets Smith To Claim Title

Australia’s Arlene Blencowe, a former world class Muay Thai fighter, made some kind of boxing history on Thursday(June 13) at the Trusts Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.

In only her third professional boxing match, she upset local favorite, and former World Champion, Daniella Smith by unanimous decision to win the vacant WBF female welterweight title recently vacated by Holly Holm.

To make the feat even more astonishing, Blencowe came in at short notice to replace Smith´s original opponent Sarah Howett who pulled out with injury a few days ago.

Blencowe, from Port Macquarie, New South Wales, outworked Smith from the start, and once she found her rhythm she never looked back, scoring to the body and head, especially with her right hand.

To her credit, Daniella Smith never gave up and tried to the end to turn the tide. She continued to come forward throughout, only to be countered by the aggressive Blencowe.

After ten action-packed rounds all three judges, Carrick Belton, Gary Searle and Kylie Bell, scored the fight 100-91 in favor of the visitor.

The new world champion improved her record to 2-1 (0), while Daniella Smith dropped to 12-4 (0).